Police could be given cement body armour

On guard: an officer outside Downing Street in the current vest. The new cement type is made to contour the body

Police forces in Britain could soon be using body armour made from cement.

The bulletproof vests are made from cement "plates" containing carbon fibre filaments which will make them lighter than metal ones.

Current armour is constructed with alumina plates - the raw material used to make aluminium - which is heated to 1,600C for up to two weeks in a process called "sintering" to make it ultra-hard.

However, scientists at the University of Leeds, who are developing the armour, say the cement versions are cheaper and easier to make.

They hope the jackets will be available within two years and could be perfect for forces such as the Met and soldiers.

Dr Philip Purnell, who is leading the research, said: "By using cement instead of alumina, we can make it to contour the body rather than the A4-sized sheets currently used in bulletproof vests."

It is hoped the cement armour will be used by those who face "medium threats".

Dr Purnell added: "Cement-based body armour would also take some of the pressure off the demand for hi-spec alumina models, so people like soldiers can get it.

"People think cement is heavy. In this instance, when combined with carbon fibres, it will be very light. Because we can manufacture it in any size or shape, there are also a lot of opportunities for more unusual products.

"For instance, one thing a lot of soldiers say they want are bulletproof underpants - maybe that is something we can work on."